Re: [Harp-L] Playing harp in a rack

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim McBride" <jpmcbride@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 6:41 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Playing harp in a rack


> Was wondering if any of you played harp in a rack with guitar. I'm working 
> on this and its really slow going. I can play the harp as long as the harp 
> notes change on the beats with the guitar - thats pretty easy. But as soon 
> as I'm playing something like a shuffle on the guitar and try to play a 
> triplet on the harp the whole thing falls apart. I guess it just takes 
> time. Any advise on practice routines or any help on this would be 
> appreciated.

Welcome to the fascination of rack & guitar playing!

I have some advice that might help you.

1. Practice the parts separately until you can do both fluently.
2. Slow the difficult rhythms down until you can do them...even if they no 
longer sound musical. You want them so slow that you can switch your 
attention back and forth between the instruments before every note. 
Practice them at that speed repeatedly without pressing for speed. 
Unconsciously, you will gradually speed up and they will begin to sound 
musical.
3. Practice singing the harmonica part with guitar accompaniment to get the 
rhythm right.
4. Musical independence will come with practice, so persevere.  Keyboard 
artists play separate rhythms with right and left hands.  Organists play 
independent parts with both hands and their feet!  If thise musicians can do 
it, so can you.

At SPAH04, we had a great event dedicated to rack playing.  I was amazed at 
the number of first rate players that perform on a rack.   Jimi Lee, James 
Conway, Madcat Ruth, Richard Sleigh, Marv Monroe and others gave terrific 
rack performances.

Marv Monroe plays F and F# XB40s side by side on a rack.  He has been 
playing great music on a rack for years.

I invite you to visit my website and consider playing chromatic harmonica on 
a rack. : http://www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

Vern